US3580105A

US3580105A - Program control apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3580105A
Application number: US823411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren E Gilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-09
Filing date: 1969-05-09
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25
Also published as: GB1305439A; DE2022631A1; DE7017343U; FR2047517A5

Abstract

A program control apparatus includes a drum mounted for rotation and a stack of cam rings removably supported upon the drum surface. The cam rings include outwardly projecting partly cut away flanges formed of easily removable material providing cam surfaces for the control of a program operation through a series of cam follower devices. The drum is mounted only at one end by means of a shaft connected to a wall portion of a support, the support also supporting drive means for rotating the drum and the cam follower devices. The arrangement permits rapid and convenient setup and adjustment of programs through cutting away of portions of the cam ring flanges, through exchange of the cam rings, and through exchange of the entire drum assembly.

Description

I Umted States Patent 11113,580,105

[72] Inventor Warr n E- Gils n 1 3,148,518 9/1964 Peel et a1. 66/50(B)X 4801 Sheboygan Ave., Madison, Wis. 3,177,310 4/1965 Deeken 74/568X 53705 3,481,219 12/1969 De Rosa 74/568 [21 1 p 823411 Primary Examiner-Fred C. Mattem, Jr. [22] Filed May 9, 1969 A E F D Sh ak [45] Patented May 25, 19,71 sszstant xammer oem er Att0rneyMason, Kolehmamen, Rathburn & Wyss 1541 PROGRAMCONI'ROLAPPARAWS Qfifil'fii rfimiffifiifi2iiiiioillii illlilliiiS532 l1 cmsmwmgm ported upon the drum surface. The cam rings include out- U-S- rojecting cut away flanges fored of 1 Cl F16}! 54/04 removable material providing cam surfaces for the control of a 0f program peration through a eries of cam follower devices. 568 (1166/56, 50(3); 200/38 The drum is mounted only at one end by means ofa shaft connected to a wall portion of a support, the support also supporting drive means for rotating the drum and the cam follower [5 6] References Cited devices The arrangement permits rapid and convenient setup UNITED STATES PATENTS and adjustment of programs through cutting away of portions 1,940,598 12/1933 Larkin 74/568X of the cam ring flanges, through exchange of the cam rings, 2,643,533 6/1953 St. Pierre 66/156X and through exchange of the entire drum assembly.

PROGRAM CONTROL APPARATUS The present invention relates to program control apparatus.

Many types of rotary drum programming devices are known. Typically, such devices include a rotating drum having a series of cam surfaces each defining projections or recesses engaged by cam followers to control a series of control devices thereby to carry out a program operation. The present invention relates to improvements in this type of device.

Among the principal objects of this invention are to provide improved program control apparatus; to provide an apparatus which is capable of easily being prepared initially to set up a program; to provide a device in which adjustments of an entire program or portions of the program are easily carried out; and to provide an apparatus which is reliable, compact, and relatively inexpensive.

In brief, the above and other objects and advantages are realized in accordance with the present invention through the provision of a program control apparatus including a drum mounted for rotation together with a series of cam rings removably mounted in stacked relation on the drum. The cam rings each include an outwardly radially extending flange formed of easily cutaway material which is removed in part in accordance with the program to be carried out. The cam rings include base portions of greater axial length to maintain a desired spacing between the flanges when the rings are stacked on the 'drum. The rings are easily mounted and removed from the drum surface in order to set up, alter, or change the program. In addition, the drum is rotatably mounted on a shaft having only a single end supported on a wall member, the drum being easily removable and replaceable in order to change an entire program. The wall member is associated with a suitable support also carrying a drive means for rotating the drum and a series of cam follower operated devices for carrying out the desired program.

The invention together with its objects and advantages may be best understood from consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a program control apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cam rings of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on a reduced scale illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Having reference now to FIGS. 14 of the drawings, there is illustrated a program control apparatus designated as a whole by the reference numeral and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In the main, the apparatus 10 includes a rotatably mounted programming drum assembly generally designated as 12 together with a drive system generally designated as 14 for rotating the drum assembly 12. A control assembly designated as a whole as 16 is operatedrby the drum assembly 12 to carry out a program or a selected sequence of operations.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the drum assembly l2this construction making possible simplified setup of the initial program as well as simplifying changes of part of the program or of the entire program. The drum assembly 12 includes a generally cylindrical drum or body 18 (FIG. 3) over the surface of which are removably supported a stacked arrangement of individual cam rings each designated by the reference numeral 20. The cam rings are easily prepared so that they present the desired arrangement of cam surfaces for the operation of the control assembly I6. In addition, the cam rings are easily installed, arranged and replaced on the drum 18.

Having reference to FIG. 4, the construction of one of the cam rings 20 is illustrated. The ring includes a generally collarlike base portion 20A having a substantially uniforminside diameter such that the base portion 20A may be slidably received on the drum 18. The ring 20 further includes a radially outwardly extending flange or rim 208 formed integrally with the base 20A. The material of the flange or rim 20B is such that selected portions of the rim may be removed by a suitable cutting tool or the like to provide recesses of desired extent and location, the recesses being designated as 22 in the figures of the drawing. The ease of preparing the cam rings to set up a desired program is enhanced by the provision of suitable regularly spaced indicia arranged about the periphery of the base portion 20A of the cam ring. In order to relate the regularly spaced indicia to a parameter of the program to be set up, such as time, the flange or rim 20B is also provided with indicia, as appears in FIG. 4.

The cam rings 20 may be supported on the cylindrical surface of the drum 18 in any suitable manner, as by a friction fit or by clamping or the like. In order to prevent rotation of the cam rings relative to the surface of the drum body, a suitable interlocking arrangement is'provided. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention in FIGS. 1-4, this interlocking arrangement takes the form of a radially inwardly extending projection 20C on each cam ring 20 extending into an axially extending groove 24 (FIG. 3) in the surface of the drum 18. As appears best in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the cam rings20 are mounted in stacked relationship on the surface of the drum 18, the base portions 20A of the rings maintain a desirable uniform spacing between the cam surface defining flanges or rims 20B.

In order to set up a desired program with the drum assembly 12, the individual cam rings 20 are prepared by cutting away or removing selected portions of the rims 20B in accordance with the desired sequence of controlled events to take place. This process if facilitated by the provision of indicia on both the base and flange portions of the cam ring. This cutting away process by which material is removed from the flanges 20B is easily carried out since the cam rings 20 are formed of a material such as plastic or the like which can readily be removed with a suitable tool. The prepared cam rings are then mounted on the drum 18 in the desired sequence to produce the selected program. In the event it is desired to alter any portion or portions of the completed program, the change is readily accomplished merely by replacing the particular cam ring or rings 20 corresponding to the changes to be made. It is not necessary to change the entire program merely to alter one portion.

An important advantage of the present invention is that the various components of the apparatus 10 are compactly mounted in a convenient and simple arrangement wherein any of the components including the entire drum assembly 12 can easily be removed and replaced. The apparatus is provided with a supporting frame which, in the illustrated arrangement, includes a base 26, a wall 28, and a leg 30, although other arrangements could be used. Conveniently, the drum assembly 12 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 32, the shaft being supported only at one end on the wall 28. The opposite end of the shaft is unsupported and therefore easily accessible.

More specifically, the drum or body 18 includes a pair of end walls 18A (FIG. 3) defining openings 34 receiving the shaft 32 loosely enough so that the drum 18 is free to rotate about the shaft 32. The shaft projects through the openings 34 and is releasably attached to an opening 36 in the wall 28. Thus, when it is desired to change an entire program, this can rapidly and conveniently be accomplished merely be releasing the shaft 32 and replacing the entire drum assembly 12 with a different drum assembly carrying the desired program.

Rotation is imparted to the drum assembly 12 by means of the drive system 14 including a motor 38 supported by the base 26. The motor includes a rotatable drive shaft 40 carrying a drive pinion 42. An idler 44 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 46 supported by the wall 28 and serves to transmit rotary motion between the pinion 42 and a driven gear 48 mounted at one end of the drum 18. The driven gear 48 is received over a hub portion 188 of the drum l8 and is fixed to the drum in any suitable manner, as with fasteners 50.

In the arrangement of FIGS. l4, the cam rings 20 are clamped in position along the drum surface, although if desired a friction fit mounting or other arrangement could be used. In order to clamp the rings in position, a first clamping plate 52 is sandwiched between the driven gear 48 and the end wall 18A 'of the drum 18. If desired, the plate 52 could obviously be formed integrally with the drum or with the gear. At the opposite end of the drum 18, an additional clamping plate 54 is held against the opposite wall 18 by an enlarged portion 32A of the shaft 32.

ln order to facilitate mounting and removal of the drum assembly 12, the shaft 32 is provided with a handle 56 at its free outermost end. The innermost end of the shaft 32 is provided with a threaded reduced end portion 32B extending through sembly 12 is permitted freely to rotate on the shaft when driven by the motor 40 and

gears

42, 44, and 48. The use of the gear drive arrangement makes it possible easily to remove the motor 40 from the apparatus for replacement or the like.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of the control assembly 16, there are provided a plurality of cam followers comprising pivotally mounted levers 62 having rollers 64 riding upon the cam surfaces defined by the flanges 208. The cam followers operate suitable control devices which in the illustrated arrangements take the form of miniature push button switches 66. The switches are mounted on a pair of support bars 68 extending between the wall 28 and the leg 30 of the frame. These switches are adapted to be interconnected in known manner with electrically operated equipment to be controlled in a programmed sequence.

Having reference now to FIG. there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention which may be preferred when cam rings of larger diameter are desired to provide cam surfaces of greater length. The construction of the arrangement of HO. 5 may for the most part be similar to the apparatus shown in FIGS. l-4 and thus has not been completely illustrated.

When rings of large diameter such as about 6 inches or larger are used, it is difficult to maintain the shape and size of the rings uniform. Thus it may be difficult to mount the rings on a drum having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the rings. Furthermore the accuracy of the program may be impaired since the cam surfaces of different rings may differ somewhat in length.

Such problems are overcome in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a drum 118 the outer circumference of which is provided with regularly spaced elongated gear teeth 119 extending in an axial direction throughout some of all of the length of the drum. Cam rings 120 having inside diameters larger than the drum diameter are removably supported in stacked relation on the drum, and each includes inner gear teeth 120C engageable with the teeth 119. The rings 120 are somewhat loosely supported on the drum 118 so that they hang freely from the drum.

When the drum 118 is rotated, a planetary gear action takes place to cause the rings 120 to rotate about their axes. Cam follower devices including levers 162 for controlling pushbutton'switches or the like may be arranged to engage the uppermost portions of the rings 120 to aid in holding the rings 120 on the drum "8. The rings include base portions 120A and flanges 1208 which may be identical to the portions A and 20B of the cam rings 20. Since each ring has an equal number of inner gear teeth, and since the cam surface at the outside of each ring 120 is aligned rotationally with the inner teeth, the program is accurate regardless of slight variations in the size or shape of the rings.

lclaim:

l. A program control apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis, means defining a plurality of cam surfaces extending in generally circular paths around the circumference of the drum, and a plurality of cam follower means engageable with the cam surfaces for carrying out a program in accordance with the configuration of said cam surfaces, said cam surface defining means including a plurality of individual ring members slidably and removably supported on the surface of the drum, each of said ring members including a radially outwardly projecting flange of initially uniform and initially continuous cross section formed of a material being selectively removable at any desired region to form a recess of any desired length in the flange.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, each said ring member including a base having a smaller outside diameter and a larger axial length than said flange portion, the bases of adjacent ring members abutting one another to provide uniform spacing between the cam surfaces when the ring members are stacked.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said base and said flange of each ring member being made of plastic material.

4. A program control apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis, means defining a plurality of cam surfaces extending in generally circular paths around the circumference of the drum, and a plurality of cam follower means engageable with the cam surfaces for carrying out a program in accordance with the configuration of said cam surfaces, said cam surface defining means including a plurality of individual ring members slidably and removably supported on the surface of the drum, each of said ring members including a radially outwardly projecting flange of initially uniform and continuous cross section formed of a material being selectively removable to form a recess in the flange, each said ring member including a base having a smaller outside diameter and a larger axial length than said flange portion, the bases of said ring members providing uniform spacing between the cam surfaces when the ring members are stacked and indicia on the peripheral surface of each said base adjacent said flange to serve as a guide in the removal of the flange material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, having further indicia on said flange related to said first-mentioned indicia.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, a radially inwardly directed projection on each said ring member, and a groove in the surface of said drum receiving said projections for holding said cam rings against rotation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said ring members having an inside diameter slightly greater than the drum diameter and being slidably received thereon.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said drum having spaced elongated axially extending gear teeth defined on its surface, and said ring members having inside diameters substantially larger than the diameter of the drum, and each ring member having spaced inwardly directed gear teeth engageable with said drum gear teeth.

9. A program control apparatus comprising a support having a wall portion, an opening in said wall portion, a rotatable programming drum having axial opening means defined therethrough and having cam means supported on its surface, a support shaft adapted to extend through said axial opening means rotatably to support said drum, said-shaft having an end portion engageable with said opening to provide a single point support for said shaft for mounting said drum in a location projecting from said wall portion, drive means mounted on said support for rotating said drum, and control means mounted on said support and engageable with said cam means for carrying out a program operation, said drive means comprising a driven gear attached to one end of said drum between said drum and said wall portion, a motor mounted on said support means, a drive pinion rotated by said motor, and an idler coupled between said drive pinion and driven gear, said idler being supported on said wall portion.

10. A cam ring adapted to be mounted in stacked relation with similar cam rings on a rotatable cylindrical surface to perform a programming function, said cam ring comprising: a unitary generally annular body including a base and a flange,

the base having an axial length in excess of its radial thickness so as to have a collarlike shape, and said flange having an axial length smaller than the axial length of the base and extending radially outwardly of the base conveniently to be cutaway in part to form a peripheral cam surface, said flange initially being continuous and having a uniform cross section readily cut away at any region and for any desired length.

11. A cam ring adapted to be mounted in stacked relation with similar cam rings on a rotatable cylindrical surface to perform a programming function, said cam ring comprising: a

unitary generally annular body including a base and a flange, the base having an axial length in excess of its radial thickness so as to have a collarlike shape, and said flange having an axial length smaller than the axial length of the base and extending radially outwardly of the base conveniently to be cut away in part to form a peripheral cam surface, and regularly spaced indicia arranged along said flange and along the periphery of said base to facilitate preparation of said peripheral cam surface.

Claims

1. A program control apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about a central longitudinal axis, means defining a plurality of cam surfaces extending in generally circular paths around the circumference of the drum, and a plurality of cam follower means engageable with the cam surfaces for carrying out a program in accordance with the configuration of said cam surfaces, said cam surface defining means including a plurality of individual ring members slidably and removably supported on the surface of the drum, each of said ring members including a radially outwardly projecting flange of initially uniform and initially continuous cross section formed of a material being selectively removable at any desired region to form a recess of any desired length in the flange.

9. A program control apparatus comprising a support having a wall portion, an opening in said wall portion, a rotatable programming drum having axial opening means defined therethrough and having cam means supported on its surface, a support shaft adapted to extend through said axial opening means rotatably to support said drum, said shaft having an end portion engageable with said opening to provide a single point support for said shaft for mounting said drum in a location projecting from said wall portion, drive means mounted on said support for rotating said drum, and control means mounted on said support and engageable with said cam means for carrying out a program operation, said drive means comprising a driven gear attached to one end of said drum between said drum and said wall portion, a motor mounted on said support means, a drive pinion rotated by said motor, and an idler coupled between said drive pinion and driven gear, said idler being supported on said wall portion.

10. A cam ring adapted to be mounted in stacked relation with similar cam rings on a rotatable cylindrical surface to perform a programming function, said cam ring comprising: a unitary generally annular body including a base and a flange, the base having an axial length in excess of its radial thickness so as to have a collarlike shape, and said flange having an axial length smaller than the axial length of the base and extending radially outwardly of the base conveniently to be cut away in part to form a peripheral cam surface, said flange initially being continuous and having a uniform cross section readily cut away at any region and for any desired length.

11. A cam ring adapted to be mounted in stacked relation with similar cam rings on a rotatable cylindrical surface to perform a programming function, said cam ring comprising: a unitary generally annular body including a base and a flange, the base having an axial length in excess of its radial thickness so as to have a collarlike shape, and said flange having an axial length smaller than the axial length of the base and extending radially outwardly of the base conveniently to be cut away in part to form a peripheral cam surface, and regularly spaced indicia arranged along said flange and along the periphery of said base to facilitate preparation of said peripheral cam surface.